asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the rules applied in determining whether or not to destroy case papers relating to criminal trials, and whether they will amend those rules so as to provide that papers relating to any case in which a person is sentenced to life imprisonment shall be retained for the life time of that person, bearing in mind that matters dealt with in those papers could affect decisions to release the person from prison on licence, or to recall him or her under that licence.
At present, there is no special rule requiring the preservation of any particular class of case papers relating to criminal trials by reference to the sentence imposed. I ant however reviewing the question of whether it is necessary to preserve for later reference the papers relating to a case in, which a life sentence is imposed.House adjourned at four minutes before nine o'clock.